Charlie Sheen Pens Open Letter About His HIV Diagnosis: 'My Partying Days Are Behind Me'

Charlie Sheen wrote himself an open-letter about finding out he was diagnosed with HIV, and the Today show published the letter after his tell-all interview on Tuesday (November 17).

“Roughly four years ago, I suddenly found myself in the throws of a seismic and debilitating three-day cluster-migraine-like headache. I was emergently hospitalized with what I believed to be a brain tumor or perhaps some unknown pathology. I was partially correct. Following a battery of endless tests, that included a hideous spinal tap, it was sadly and shockingly revealed to me that I was, in fact, positive for HIV,” the 50-year-old actor wrote. “The news was a ‘mule kick’ to my soul. Those impossible words I absorbed and then tried to convince myself, that I was stuck, suspended, or even stranded inside some kind of alternate reality or nightmare, were to the absolute contrary. I was awake. It was true… reality.”

“Under the brilliant and perfect care of Dr. Robert Huizenga as well as ‘the’ leading infectious disease expert in the known universe, I began a rigorous and intensive treatment program. Not missing a beat, a med dose, or one shred of guidance, quickly my viral loads became undetectable. Like every other challenge in my life, again, I was victorious and kicking this disease’s ass. I wish my story had ended there. Unfortunately, for my family and myself, it had only just begun,” Charlie continued.

Click inside to read the rest of Charlie Sheen’s open letter about his diagnosis…

The personal disbelief, karmic confusion, shame and anger lead to a temporary yet abysmal descent into profound substance abuse and fathomless drinking. It was a suicide run. Problem was, I’d forgotten that I’m too tough for such a cowardly departure. Yet, despite this loathsome and horrific odyssey, I was vigilant with my anti-viral program.

My medical team could only shake their heads as each and every blood test returned levels revealing a state of remission. Even though I might have been trying to kill myself, one thing was radically evident; the disease was not.

In and around this perplexing and difficult time, I dazedly chose (or hired) the companionship of unsavory and insipid types. Regardless of their salt-less reputations, I always lead with condoms and honesty when it came to my condition. Sadly, my truth soon became their treason, as a deluge of blackmail and extortion took center stage in this circus of deceit.

To date, I have paid out countless millions to these desperate charlatans.

Locked in a vacuum of fear, I chose to allow their threats and skulduggery to vastly deplete future assets from my children, while my “secret” sat entombed in their hives of folly (or so I thought).

News Flash: This ends today. I’m claiming back my freedom. The scales of justice will swiftly and righteously re-balance themselves.

In conclusion, I accept this condition not as a curse or scourge, but rather as an opportunity and a challenge. An opportunity to help others. A challenge to better myself.

Every day, of every month, of every year, countless individuals go to work, man their stations, fulfill their professional obligations with a host of disabilities. Diseases, imperfections, hurdles, detours. These maladies range from lupus to cancer, from paralysis to blindness, from diabetes to obesity. “Treated,” HIV is no different.

My partying days are behind me. My philanthropic days are ahead of me.

Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “Courage is grace under pressure.”

I’ve served my time under pressure; I now embrace the courage, and the grace.

I hope he is honest about change, he is a talented actor. its sad that he had to learn how important its life in this way.

Ariana

I have more respect for his op-ed then I do for Angelina Jolie’s. Jolie didn’t even have cancer nor does anything to contribute to fighting cancer yet soaks up all the glory and praise that should be going to the real people fighting cancer. Sheen actually does have HIV and actaully has been an adcocate for the cause since the 80s.

Jessie

Yeah, I mean she only lost her grandmother, mother, and aunt to breast cancer and witnessed their health decline before they turned 40, so what would she have to be afraid of or have experienced.

Ariana

I get that but Jolie paraded around as a cancer victim when she never had the disease. She exploited it for her own selfish reasons. Atleast Sheen puts his money where is mouth is.

Do Tell

Unfortunately, those old habits are hard to kill. I think he has been doing things for so long and he has never cared what people thought, so it will be difficult for him to stop doing that stuff. But if he begins to see changes in his health, it may be the thing that truly motivates him.